Листя кацури

Katsura, Cercidiphyllum japonicum, is a species of flowering tree in the family Cercidiphyllaceae, native to China and Japan. The tree is deciduous and grows to 10-45 meters tall. The leaves turn a variety of pinks and yellows in autumn and sometimes have a distinctive caramel scent when in fresh autumn colors. The genus Cercidiphyllum contains two species, both commonly called katsura. The other species, Cercidiphyllum magnificum, is endemic to central Honshū.

As katsura leaves begin to decay, they release molecules of maltol into the air. Maltol is most famously noticeable in katsura trees as they begin to turn color and the complex sugars in their leaves break down. The scent can sometimes be a sign that the tree is in distress. In a hot, dry period of summer, the scent can often be smelled before the trees have shed any leaves. The reason the trees release this scent is not known.

Maltol is a white crystalline powder that is soluble in hot water and other polar solvents. Its preferred IUPAC name is 3-hydroxy-2-methyl-4H-pyran-4-one.

Katsura is a popular ornamental tree in Japan as well as elsewhere. In Japan, it is also grown for its timber, which is used for construction and woodworking. Katsura wood is often used to make gobans, the boards for the game Go. The species is listed as endangered in China, but overall, with the Japanese populations included, it is classified as lower risk.

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